Health Boards
Fri-28-10-2011, 12:14 PM
My experience at Vanier started in grade 10. It was a fresh start. I didn't have friends and I didn't start with expectations. That first year I made a few good friends, those who graduated previously. The two years we grew closer in school, they made me feel I had comfort and incentive to walk through the halls each day.
Due to having a condition like Psoriasis, I have always felt I don't fit in and feel like an outcast. When I get strange looks after someone glances at my face and body, I feel disintegrated and put below them. Not only do I feel their looks, but I hear talking about me as they walk away.
On my second last day spent at Vanier this year, sitting in my Math 12 class, I heard talking once again, but this time it was about what I was wearing. (I was simply wearing jeans, a tank and a crocheted top. Acceptable? I think so). Anyways, it didn't stop at that, these girls went on to say how "pathetic", "slutty" and "awkward" I am. Within the same conversation, I heard one girl specifically say, "I would invite her to a party to see how awkward she would be but she's native, my parents would never allow her at my house". That is racism. And I am no self-confident person to begin with, but I know that these facts are certainly not true about myself. I shouldn't have to leave a place, certainly not a classroom, feeling so uncomfortable and degraded.
I grew up in a community with two small schools, both of which I attended. These schools and teachers taught all students not only the required lessons (math, English, P.E., etc), but to truly respect everyone and everything around you, including nature. They taught me how to be an intuitive, considerate and openminded person.
In my experiences at Vanier, in certain teachers' classes, I was demonstrated the care and patience of the teacher. The students that recognize these traits in the teacher would in return show the respect that they are given. It takes different ways to inspire and be inspired, but I feel everyone can be successful at this.
Such is life, there is a giving and receiving of most things. But at some times, there is a one way street and for me this year, that was bullying. I think that at some point, we as humans all need to learn about acceptance of each and every person's distinctions.
Due to having a condition like Psoriasis, I have always felt I don't fit in and feel like an outcast. When I get strange looks after someone glances at my face and body, I feel disintegrated and put below them. Not only do I feel their looks, but I hear talking about me as they walk away.
On my second last day spent at Vanier this year, sitting in my Math 12 class, I heard talking once again, but this time it was about what I was wearing. (I was simply wearing jeans, a tank and a crocheted top. Acceptable? I think so). Anyways, it didn't stop at that, these girls went on to say how "pathetic", "slutty" and "awkward" I am. Within the same conversation, I heard one girl specifically say, "I would invite her to a party to see how awkward she would be but she's native, my parents would never allow her at my house". That is racism. And I am no self-confident person to begin with, but I know that these facts are certainly not true about myself. I shouldn't have to leave a place, certainly not a classroom, feeling so uncomfortable and degraded.
I grew up in a community with two small schools, both of which I attended. These schools and teachers taught all students not only the required lessons (math, English, P.E., etc), but to truly respect everyone and everything around you, including nature. They taught me how to be an intuitive, considerate and openminded person.
In my experiences at Vanier, in certain teachers' classes, I was demonstrated the care and patience of the teacher. The students that recognize these traits in the teacher would in return show the respect that they are given. It takes different ways to inspire and be inspired, but I feel everyone can be successful at this.
Such is life, there is a giving and receiving of most things. But at some times, there is a one way street and for me this year, that was bullying. I think that at some point, we as humans all need to learn about acceptance of each and every person's distinctions.